Disaster Relief

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	From what date they have differentiated between middle and lower income countries in the donation of assistance for disaster relief.

Baroness Amos: There is no differentiation between middle and lower income countries in the provision of British Government disaster relief. Whether and how the Government respond to a disaster overseas is determined by the scale of the disaster and consequential humanitarian need, the capacity of the affected country government themselves to meet the needs of those affected, whether there is a request or appeal for international assistance and what support other donors may already be providing or planning.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their latest estimate of the number of people dependent on food aid in Darfur; how this compares with the number requiring food aid this time last year; and whether sufficient food is in place to enable those who are dependent on food aid to survive the rainy season.

Baroness Amos: The World Food Programme's (WFP) latest report shows that in May this year it reached 1.8 million of its 2.3 million target beneficiaries in Darfur. In June 2004 it reached 650,000 of its 1.2 million target.
	The WFP has pre-positioned 30,000 metric tonnes, sufficient to cover three months, in west Darfur in advance of the rainy season. For south and north Darfur—where the impact of the rains on access is generally less severe than in west Darfur—the WFP will continue its delivery of food throughout the rainy season. Supplies are mainly brought in via Port Sudan, though WFP has also recently begun flying food from Libya.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the level of malnutrition and risks to personal health of the displaced people of Darfur.

Baroness Amos: Malnutrition rates vary across Darfur. The latest UN Nutrition in Crisis Situations report published in May 2005 showed average to precarious malnutrition levels in a number of locations: in south Darfur, 15.6 per cent of the assessed population of the Gereida internally displaced people (IDP) camp were found to be suffering from global acute malnutrion (GAM) with 4 per cent suffering severe acute malnutrition (SAM); in Kalma IDP camp, south Darfur, the GAM rate was 9.9 per cent and the SAM rate was 2.6 per cent; in west Darfur across three camps in the Jebel Mara area, the GAM rate was 16.2 per cent and the SAM rate 1.5 per cent GAM rates of 20 per cent or above or SAM rates of 5 per cent or above would denote a very serious situation.
	In its latest update on the health situation in Darfur, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that between 28 May and 3 June there were 66,617 reported cases of illness among the 1.56 million people under its surveillance in Darfur. The biggest causes of illness were acute respiratory tract infection (17 per cent), malaria (6 per cent) and bloody diarrhoea (4 per cent).

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to complete the arrangements for the United Kingdom-funded mortality survey in Darfur; and whether they accept the most recent estimate that 500 people are dying each day in Darfur.

Baroness Amos: The UK is funding a second World Health Organisation (WHO) mortality survey that is currently being conducted in Darfur. We expect the results will be published by the end of this month.
	Very little data are available on mortality rates in Darfur. Estimates from the previous WHO study conducted in August 2004 showed that there had been between 1.5 and 3.3 deaths per 10,000 people per day. This study only surveyed people in accessible internally displaced people (IDPs) camps, and had very little coverage of south Darfur. The new survey is sampling IDPs in camps and settlements, and affected resident populations, and will allow the UN to make more up-to-date estimates.

Murder

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the comparative murder rate for the period 2000–04 for:
	(a) England;
	(b) Northern Ireland;
	(c) Scotland; and
	(d) Wales.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information on homicide in various countries was published in table 1.14 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 02/05, Crime in England and Wales 2003–04: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime. This is available from the RDS internet site: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm

National Firearms Licensing Management System

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they now expect the central register of firearms, as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, to be in full operation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government remain fully committed to a National Firearms Licensing Management System. The main purpose of pilot testing is to reveal any potential problems that may arise. Acceptance testing last summer did highlight a number of issues but a full investigation was launched immediately to resolve them and to reinstate the roll-out programme. The NFLMS is scheduled to start going live on 11 July 2005 and will be ready for forces to take once it has been successfully signed off.

National Firearms Licensing Management System

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the National Firearms Licensing Management System will cover all police forces in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The national register of firearms certificate holders required under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 will reside on PNC. For England and Wales the register will be populated through an interface from the National Firearms Licensing Management System. Scotland will populate the register through an interface from SCRO. Northern Ireland is not covered by the provisions of the Act.

People Trafficking

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will sign up to the European Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK has not yet taken the decision on whether or not to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. There are certain provisions in the convention which present concerns for the UK and which remain under active consideration. We want to resolve these issues before taking a decision on signature. We support fully all of the aims of the convention and we too want to see widespread action to tackle this abhorrent trade at source, to protect and support the victims and bring those responsible to justice. During the UK's forthcoming presidency of the EU the, Government intend to treat combating trafficking in human beings as one of their Justice and Home Affairs priorities. We are committed to agreeing a wide-ranging EU action plan before the end of 2005 and will jointly host with Eurojust a conference focusing on investigating and prosecuting traffickers. We are considering other ways of highlighting this issue during our presidencies of the G8 and EU, both at ministerial and official levels. The Government are committed to tackling trafficking in human beings, domestically and internationally, and are determined that the measures we take bring the criminals responsible for it to justice, while protecting the victims of trafficking, but without undermining our ability to control our borders.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why there was no written record to show what consideration was given to the merits of not holding an open competition for the post of director of marketing at Waterways Ireland; who took the decision not to have written records; and on what basis.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 6 June 2005 (col. WA36).
	The person appointed to the post of director of marketing and communications was one of over 230 staff designated and transferred to Waterways Ireland under the legislation setting up the body who were guaranteed terms and conditions no worse than those under which they were employed at the time of transfer.
	I understand from the chief executive that he placed the individual concerned at an appropriate level; that the individual was the only person designated and transferred at this level and therefore it was considered that the issue of a written record did not arise in these circumstances.
	Following on from the press statement issued by Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) on 4 April 2005, Waterways Ireland will ensure that the relevant procedures associated with future appointments and promotions are revised to reflect best practice in the public sector.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis it can be shown that the most appropriate person was appointed to the position of director of marketing at Waterways Ireland if no open competition was held for the post.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 6 June 2005 (col. WA36).
	The director of marketing and communications at Waterways Ireland was appointed by the chief executive. I understand from the chief executive at Waterways Ireland that he placed the individual concerned at an appropriate level and that there were no other administrative staff designated and transferred at this level. The individual appointed was considered by the chief executive to be the most appropriate person to be appointed to the post of director of marketing and communications.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements Waterways Ireland has made to cut green weeds in Lough Erne in 2005; what new equipment has been purchased; who provided the specifications; and when the cutting process started.

Lord Rooker: As part of its operational plan to manage the issue of weed harvesting on Lough Erne, Waterways Ireland has negotiated with the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) to gain the necessary consent to carry out weed cutting on Lough Erne under the provisions of environmental regulations. A response from EHS is awaited.
	Using the European Union Journal procurement process, Waterways Ireland tendered for the manufacture and supply of a suitable aquatic weed harvester, and a contract was awarded to Broveco Machines BV, Giessen, Netherlands.
	The specification for the harvester was prepared jointly by Waterways Ireland's technical services division and a consultant naval architect with input from the Marine & Coastguard Agency (MCA). It is due for delivery in July 2005.

Northern Ireland: General Medical Services Contract

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, or its four health boards, carried out any form of consultation, including an equality impact assessment, with general practitioners on the change in policy whereby 13 July would no longer be regarded as a privilege holiday under the new general medical services contract.

Lord Rooker: The Health and Personal Social Services General Medical Services Contracts Regulations Northern Ireland 2004 stipulate that contractors are responsible for providing services during the period from 8 am to 6.30 pm on Monday to Friday except public holidays or local holidays agreed with health and social services boards. These regulations were drafted in consultation with the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association. The primary legislation, which provided the powers under which these regulations were made, was subjected to a wide-ranging formal consultation in 2003. The Explanatory Memorandum, which accompanied the order, included the conclusion that, following an equality screening exercise, there were no differential impacts under equality legislation so no formal equality impact assessment was required.

Northern Ireland: Children in Care

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children in care resided in children's homes in Northern Ireland in each of past five years.

Lord Rooker: The information on the numbers of children in care resident in children's homes in Northern Ireland for the latest five years for which information is available is detailed in the table below.
	
		
			  Year 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
			 Children resident in Children's Homes 285 273 299 296 325 
		
	
	Note: Information is for the position at 31 March each year.

Northern Ireland: Children in Care

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children in care in Northern Ireland under 16 years of age were prescribed contraceptive measures (a) with, and (b) without parental consultation and approval in each of past five years; and
	How many children in care in Northern Ireland under 16 years of age had pregnancy terminations (a) with, and (b) without parental consultation and approval in each of past five years.

Lord Rooker: The information required to answer this question is not collected centrally by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Wind Energy

Lord Vinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the operational efficiency of fully installed wind turbines on United Kingdom sites as a percentage of their rated output in 2004

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Information on the operational efficiency (commonly known as the load factor) of onshore wind turbines, as a percentage of their rated output, is published in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) which is available in the Libraries of the House.
	In 2003, the last year for which we have published statistics, the averaged load factor across all turbines was 24.1 per cent Load factors vary from year to year and the average for the five years from 1999 to 2003 was 27.4 per cent 2004 figures will be available at the end of July 2005.
	The calculation of the average load factor includes turbines that were commissioned only part way through the year as well as those which were fully installed. This may depress the overall average load factor slightly. Full details of the load factor calculations are given in paragraph 7.75 of DUKES.

Wind Energy

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received any representations, either written or verbal, from a representative or employee of Doughty Hanson/LM Glasfiber into the future of wind energy in the United Kingdom.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Given that a number of departments have an interest in the future of wind energy, it would entail disproportionate cost to establish whether the Government had received representations, either written or verbal, from a representative or employee of Doughty Hanson or LM Glasfiber. However, the DTI did not receive any written representations from either company on the statutory consultation exercise on the review of the Renewables Obligation Order 2005.
	The preliminary consultation exercise on the 2005–06 review of the renewables obligation is still under way. The closing date for responses is 13 June 2005. As of 6 June 2005 no written representations from either company had been received. The names of all respondents will be published on the DTI's website.

Wind Energy

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the nature of any contracts they have with Doughty Hanson/LM Glasfiber; and in each case what is the financial value.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: It would entail disproportionate cost to establish whether any contracts exist between the Government and Doughty Hanson or LM Glasfiber. However, the Department of Trade and Industry's renewables team has no current contracts with either company.

A400M

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What reports they have received from the Organization Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d'Armement on the progress of the A400M military heavy-lift aircraft project since that agency was appointed to manage the United Kingdom's purchase of these aircraft.

Lord Drayson: As well as the regular reports received, on a wide range of routine issues, the main reports that Her Majesty's Government receive from the Organization Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d'Armement regarding the A400M project are:
	A high level annual report to the programme board covering programme, financial and commercial aspects of the project.
	A bi-annual report to the programme committee which provides a more detailed review of the project.

Sports Cabinet

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what dates the Sports Cabinet has met in the past three years; who attended each meeting; and what were the significant agreed outcomes of each meeting.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Since June 2002 the Sports Cabinet has met on four occasions: 18 June 2002, 8 January 2003, 23 October 2003 and 20 April 2004. Those in attendance at each of the meetings are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  18 June 2002 
			 Ministers Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP   Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP   Jenny Randerson AM, Minister for Culture,   Sport.and Welsh Language (Welsh Assembly) 
			 Mike Watson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture   and Sport (Scottish Executive) 
			 Dr Elaine Murray MSP, Deputy Minister for   Tourism, Culture and Sport (Scottish Executive) 
			 Michael McGimpsey MLA, Minister for Culture,   Arts and Leisure (Northern Ireland Executive) 
			 Chairs Sir Rodney Walker (UK Sport) 
			 Gareth Davies (Sports Council for Wales) 
			 Alastair Dempster (sportscotland) 
			 Professor Eric Saunders (Sports Council for   Northern Ireland 
			 Officials Philippa Drew 
			 Harry Reeves 
			 Stephen Hodgson 
			 Rob Holt 
			 Adam Peat 
			 Bob Irvine 
			 John Gilmour 
			 Dr Aideen McGinley 
			 Jack Palmer 
			 Others David Moffett, Chief Executive of Sport England John Clark, Performance and Innovation Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  8 January 2003 
			 Ministers Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP 
			 Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP 
			 Jenny Randerson AM, Minister for Culture,   Sport.and Welsh Language (Welsh Assembly) 
			 Dr Elaine Murray MSP, Deputy Minister for   Tourism, Culture and Sport (Scottish Executive) 
			 Chairs Sir Rodney Walker (UK Sport) 
			 Patrick Carter (Sport England) 
			 Gareth Davies (Sports Council for Wales) 
			 Alastair Dempster (sportscotland) 
			 Professor Eric Saunders (Sports Council for   Northern Ireland) 
			 Officials Alec McGivan 
			 Harry Reeves 
			 Stephen Hodgson 
			 Simon Cooper 
			 Margaret Evans 
			 Arthur Emyr 
			 Bob Irvine 
			 John Gilmour 
			 Dr Aideen McGinley 
			 Jack Palmer 
		
	
	
		
			  23 October 2003 
			 Ministers Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP 
			 Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP 
			 Alun Pugh AM, Minister for Culture, Welsh   Language and Sport (Welsh Assembly) 
			 Frank McAveety MSP, Minister for Tourism,   Culture and Sport (Scottish Executive) 
			 Angela Smith MP (Northern Ireland) 
			 Chairs Sue Campbell (UK Sport) 
			 Patrick Carter (Sport England) 
			 Anne Ellis (Sports Council for Wales)—Acting   Chair 
			 Alastair Dempster (sportscotland) 
			 Professor Eric Saunders (Sports Council for   Northern Ireland) 
			 Officials Alec McGivan 
			 Paul Heron 
			 Debbie Lye 
			 Colin Gibson 
			 Margaret Evans 
			 Arthur Emyr 
			 John Gilmour 
			 Karen Mitchell 
			 Jack Palmer 
		
	
	
		
			  20 April 2004 
			 Ministers Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP 
			 Rt Hon Richard Caborn, MP 
			 Alun Pugh AM, Minister for Culture, Welsh   Language and Sport (Welsh Assembly) 
			 Frank McAveety MSP, Minister for Tourism,   Culture and Sport (Scottish Executive) 
			 Angela Smith MP, (Northern Ireland) 
			 Chairs Sue Campbell, (UK Sport) 
			 Patrick Carter, (Sport England) 
			 Philip Carting (Sports Council for Wales) 
			 Alastair Dempster (sportscotland) 
			 Professor Eric Saunders (Sports Council for   Northern Ireland) 
			 Officials Paul Bolt 
			 Paul Heron 
			 Stephen Hodgson 
			 Colin Gibson 
			 Margaret Evans 
			 Arthur Emyr 
			 John Gilmour 
			 Dr Aideen McGinley 
			 Jack Palmer 
		
	
	The Sports Cabinet is a forum for discussion by home country Sports Ministers of issues of common interest affecting the UK and the identification and sharing of best practice. The meeting in June 2002 discussed a number of issues including the Commonwealth Games, the work of the coaching task force and major events. At the January 2003 meeting the main discussion was on maintaining funding for UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme and it was agreed that funding should be maintained at the same level in the run-up to the Athens Olympics as it had been in the run-up to the Sydney Olympics. At the October 2003 meeting, Ministers discussed and agreed the key strands of reform of UK Sport and the criteria and the sports to be included in the one-stop planning process. At the April 2004 meeting Ministers discussed and agreed, subject to some further work, for example on anti-doping—the recommendations of the UK Sport reform process.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money was spent by 10 Downing Street on services and products acquired from McKinsey and Company Incorporated in each year since 1997; and whether they will provide a breakdown of such expenditure.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: None.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many pieces of correspondence including faxes, e-mails and letters 10 Downing Street received in each of the past five years from McKinsey and Company Incorporated.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain the information would incur disproportionate costs.

Ministerial Privileges

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Lord Birt, the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, has the use of a government car; if so, how often he uses such a facility; and at what cost; and
	Whether the right honourable Alan Milburn MP has the use of a government car; if so, how often he uses such a facility; and at what cost.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr Roy Burke to write to the noble Lord. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.